Dear Friends,
As we are all aware, the Virginia State and PW County health officials continue to work on vaccine access and stopping spread of COVID-19. I know this has been a complicated and frustrating process for many, with many changes to registration and availability. I am encouraged that as of today, March 8th, PWC will be administering the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine in addition to the Moderna vaccine, and Pfizer used by partner groups. This single shot should help increase distribution and availability.
Also, I just learned the Prince William Health District is now using a new vaccine appointment scheduling system called “PrepMod.” Emails about appoints will come via this system now, so please go to site here to see exactly what to expect: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/prince-william/
I’ve expressed my frustration at the vaccine information, appointments, and availability numerous times now and will continue to hold county staff accountable on this critical issue of our time. Lives are literally at stake, and we have to find the best way to get our high-risk citizens who want the vaccine access to it, and without delays.
Nevertheless, in the shadow of this pandemic, the Prince William County budget process is proceeding. The annual budget must get done, but some of my board colleagues think this is the right time to greatly increase residential taxes, spending, and fundamentally change the landscape of our rural and historic areas.
I am fighting against one of the largest tax and spending increases in County history. This year, the party in power proposed tens of millions of dollars in new spending, and that is in addition to tens of millions in new spending from last year. Once again, we can all see that Prince William County government doesn’t have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem.
Some on the board say we should expand our commercial tax base as aggressively as possible. While I certainly believe improving our commercial tax base is a tool to bring jobs closer and reduce residential taxes, I don’t think ruining our rural areas to broaden the data center industry’s control of Northern Virginia is appropriate during a pandemic, or anytime.
This threat is real and has started in earnest.
You may have missed it (because honestly who can stay up to watch these marathon board meetings) but at 1:00am, during the March 2 Board of County Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Angry (D-Neabsco) took direct aim at the Rural Crescent as a budget solution to boost revenue. His intent is to examine placing data centers in the rural areas of our county. Specifically, he is pursuing a project that would bring hundreds of acres of data centers right next to the Manassas Battlefield off of Rt 29.
His relentless drive to pursue ever more tax dollars with little regard of the impact on the rural area of our county cannot be understated. He did not hide the fact that he supports opening up the Rural Crescent for development. In fact, he asked the Board to send all the folks opposing such a policy change his way. If you disagree with his plan to build data centers in our rural areas, you can email him at vsangry@pwcgov.org.
The assault on our Rural Crescent under the cover of night at one in the morning cannot go unchallenged. His resolution was hastily put together and did not even seek the input of our planning commission or planning department. While I agree it would be good to take another look from a planning perspective where data centers should go in our county, I do not believe we should just put them anywhere with the greatest determining factor being outsider data center operators.
In the end, however, Supervisor Angry could not get enough votes to get his resolution passed. But he made it very clear that he wasn’t going to give up.
Make no mistake, the fight to preserve our rural areas, protect the environment, and stop the overcrowding of our roads and schools is well under way. I’m asking for folks to get involved and to make sure your voice is heard with this Board of County Supervisors. Please tell your neighbors, your HOA, your friends…it needs to be all hands on deck when this push eventually comes.
If you agree with me that building data centers in our rural areas is not good land-use policy; if you are opposed to clear cutting and grading over the Rural Crescent; if you are opposed to crisscrossing our county with high voltage transmission lines, if you are opposed to building data centers in the shadow of our national battlefields; then please email the Board of County Supervisors at BOCS@pwcgov.org and tell them so.
The door has been kicked open to develop our rural areas in Prince William County and it’s going to take everyone working together to stop it. You have my word that I will continue to do everything I can to protect our rural and historic areas from the constant push of overdevelopment.
Sincerely,
Pete Candland, Supervisor
Gainesville Magisterial District